DVAC searches Nehru premises, Stalin alleges political vendetta

DVAC officials searched premises linked to former DMK minister K N Nehru across Tamil Nadu over alleged irregularities in the recruitment of 2,538 people during his tenure. DMK chief M K Stalin condemned the searches as politically motivated, while the government rejected the allegation

Chennai: Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) officials conducted searches at premises linked to former DMK minister K N Nehru across Tamil Nadu on Saturday, drawing criticism from party president M K Stalin, who termed the action “politically motivated”.

Responding to the allegation, TVK Minister R Nirmal Kumar said the searches of Nehru’s premises were a routine legal procedure based on evidence and complaints.

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“It is not an act of political vendetta, as alleged. No one has the authority to interfere with the functioning of the Vigilance department,” the Energy Resources and Law minister told reporters in Madurai.

Searches were underway in Tiruchirappalli, where Nehru’s residence is located, as well as at premises linked to his brother and several other locations, including Chennai.

A large number of Nehru’s supporters, along with former School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi, gathered outside his residence. Nehru made a brief appearance and appealed to them to leave for the party office.

The searches by the DVAC were linked to alleged irregularities in the recruitment of 2,538 people during Nehru’s tenure as Municipal Administration and Water Supply minister, sources said.

Nehru currently represents the Tiruchirappalli West Assembly constituency and is the DMK’s deputy floor leader in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly. He is also a prominent DMK leader in central Tamil Nadu.

The DVAC had earlier registered an FIR under Section 7(c) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, and relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, naming Nehru, the DMK’s principal secretary, his brothers and several officials.

Strongly condemning the searches, Stalin on Saturday alleged that the state government was resorting to “purely politically motivated diversionary tactics” amid the ongoing High Court case and the Assembly session.

In a post on X, the former chief minister said the searches were an attempt to intimidate the Opposition.

He accused the ruling dispensation of engaging in horse-trading to secure power, a charge already denied by the TVK government.

“The people of Tamil Nadu are well aware that, to form the government, they induced MLAs from other parties to resign and inducted them into their party right on the Assembly premises,” Stalin said, alleging that authorities had failed to register a preliminary inquiry into formal complaints filed in the matter.

Calling such actions the “dark side of Indian democracy”, Stalin dismissed the government’s moves as political “gimmicks” and said neither Nehru nor the DMK would be intimidated.

“We will confront and triumph over everything as per law,” Stalin said, asserting that the party would challenge the administration’s actions legally.